Running Along the Mississippi and then off to the Park!

Looks like Tom Sawyer lost his raft.

It scares me to think what ate this fish!

Looks like the Mississippi River may cause yeast infections!

Beautiful views!

Back to pick up the family for the "Family Run to the Park."

Taught the kids how to play "Farmer, Farmer Let Me Down."  Lots of great memories!

I thought Merry-Go-Rounds were outlawed.  Not in Keokuk.

Pre-Pageant/Kids' Activities

Who's Making Dinner?

In order to save money during our week in Nauvoo, we decided to take turns cooking dinner.  Dabney made delicious BLTs the first night.  I made BBQ pork sandwiches for my night.  Krissy and Megan split a night and ordered DELICIOUS pizzas (by the way, I had the best gluten free pizza I've ever eaten and it was made in Keokuk, IA.  Who knew?!).  Mom and Dabney made a candlelit spaghetti dinner.  It worked out really well.  The food was delicious and we weren't in the kitchen all day everyday!

So, what would Dad cook when it was his turn?  Pasta?  Hot dogs?  Mac&Cheese?  Dad really surprised us and treated the entire family to Ogo's Buffet.  It was an all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant.  It had a salad bar, dessert bar, a potato bar, and lots of different kinds of chicken.  The unique thing about this all-you-can-eat buffet, is that the taco meat was not included.  It turns out, if you want the taco meat or the fish, you have to pay extra.  What could be so special about taco meat?  Well, there must've been something x-tra special about it, because I saw one girl walk up and serve herself an entire plate of JUST taco meat!!  Weird.

The grossest thing I've ever seen.  Emily found this spine under her chicken.  I almost vomited!

Don't take more than you can eat!

We took up a giant table that ran down the middle of the restaurant!

Where are our suits?

We decided to go swimming in Keokuk, Iowa.  It's  funny.  You drive for 18 hours to visit a new state, and what do the kids want to do?  Go swimming!  When I told the kids to go suit up for the pool, this is what I heard:  "Mom, I can't find my suit," Mom, I can't find my swimsuit anywhere," "Mom, can I swim in some regular shorts?"

Suddenly, I remembered where their swimsuits were; in the dryer in Lexington, Nebraska.  Thank goodness it was my fault.  I had left them there.  I was the one that was supposed to remember to get them out of the dryer and put them back in the suitcase.  I couldn't yell at anyone.  Instead, I loaded up all the kids in the car and headed to WalMart.  New suits all around.

July 25th - Nauvoo Temple Trip

Nyah turned 12 years old on July 11th, so she got to go to the temple for the first time in Nauvoo!  What a great memory!  The temple workers were so kind to her.  After we left she looked at me and said, "Mom, the temple workers looked like angels."

I looked at her as she said that and thought, "Nyah, you are the angel!"  I just love her!

We went out to breakfast in Nauvoo while we waited for my mom to finish up at the temple.  Smiles all around!

Road Trip/Day 4 - July 24th - Destination=Keokuk, IA

When we first spotted the Mississippi River, the children got out of the car for a photo.  One second later, Ian said, "Can we get back in the car.  It's too hot and humid."  I knew at that moment we were going to be in for a VERY long week.

We got back into the car, and then, after days and days of travel, we FINALLY arrived at our beautiful abode . . . "The Mansion."  My mom and I searched for a residence that would house all 4 female siblings, their children, plus mom and dad.  Each family needed a bedroom.  It was a tough order to fill.  "The Mansion" was the answer.  When we pulled up to the front curb, we were impressed.  Beautiful home.  Beautiful yard.  Beautiful bridge that led to the back door.  Beautiful Koi Pond in the backyard (although we never spotted a koi).  It seemed perfect.

We walked inside the home.  There were squeals of delight as all the young cousins ran from room to room.  Old fashioned decorations covered the walls.  There was a parlor with old candlesticks, a gigantic dining room, a library, a dancing hall, stairs that led to 5 bedrooms upstairs (all with window air conditioning units), swords hanging in the bedrooms.  What?!  Did she say swords?  Yes, indeed.  Swords for the children to play with.  There was even a claw foot tub to bathe in, though my bum never touched that porcelain.  Who knows what ancient relics had set foot in there!

The girl cousins invited the boy cousins to a ball in the parlor that evening.  The boy cousins decided to attend but were a little bit too cool for the dancing event.  

Road Trip/Day 4 - July 24th - Early morning run in Omaha, NE

I woke up in Omaha at 3 a.m.  I couldn't sleep so I went for a run in the dark.  I was very nervous as I had no idea where I was going, being led only by the directions on a note card I carried in my hand, but could not see.  I ran into another crazy early morning runner that kindly led me to the Omaha running path.  I found out that morning that the coolest thing about Omaha is. . . lots of places to hide while going potty.

Behind hay bales.

Beside rivers.

Under bridges.

Beside John Deere tractors.

In fact, I got so sick during this run that I ran out of toilet paper.  Shoe supply . . . empty.

What should I do?!  I could use some corn husks.  People used to use leaves to wipe, right?!

Luckily, I found relief at a porta potty, conveniently located beside the corn fields.  I reloaded my shoes with toilet paper and continued home. . . or at least back to Cousin Susan's home.

I found Nyah at the house playing with one of Susan's cats,  knowing nothing of her crazy mother's morning activities in the fields and trails of Omaha, Nebraska.